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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 



THE 



BIBLE AS A BOOK; 



AS IT IS 



AT THE PRESENT DAY; 



INSPIRATION, LOGIC, ETC. 



ALFRED W. HOAR, MEDIUM. 



Being a humble spirit of God, now in Heaven, I send forth this 
Epistle unto the world, in the year of Christ 1852, in the fifth month 
of the same. — paul. 




BOSTON: 

BELA MAKSH, NO. 25 CORNHILL. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, 

By BELA MARSH, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



TO THE READER. 



I will state a few facts, relative to my experi- 
ence as a medium. It was on the 8th of last 
April, that I first discovered that I was im- 
pressed by an invisible power. I was away 
from home at a private party, where several per- 
sons informed me, that they could move the pen 
independently of their own will ; and that sev- 
eral spirits had written out names known to me. 
Not paying* much attention to what they said, 
I accidentally took the pen, and saw to my as- 
tonishment, that my pen moved involuntarily, 
half way across a sheet of writing-paper. Being 
desirous to investigate the subject further, I, the 
next day, took the pen again, and after va- 
rious trials, I succeeded in receiving the name 
of a spirit, who was my Grandfather. This 
was the first time I had ever seen any mani- 
festations, except seeing a medium tip a light- 
stand or table twice or three times at our house, 
1* 



VI TO THE READER. 

by the aid of several spirits ; but the communi- 
cations received were not of any importance. 

The third day after I became conscious of an 
invisible power operating upon me, I became 
strangely impressed that I could become a me- 
dium writer ; and immediately afterwards, I 
consulted a spirit who appeared to be a wise 
one, and he informed me that I could be one, 
giving me the following names of men who 
formerly lived on earth, viz : — Zuingle, Calvin 
and Paul. I chose the former ; and in the 
evening I wrote by impressions, a preface to a 
work entitled, " The History of the World, from 
the Earliest Times.' , 

I will state that during the first two or three 
months after I discovered that an invisible power 
was about me, I almost daily attempted, by some 
means, to learn whether I was actually im- 
pressed by spirits whose names they bore, or 
not; and I have come to the conclusion, that, 
beginning as I did, to learn whether 1 held com- 
munion with David Wyman — my mothers 
father — and being satisfied by the communica- 
tions that I received from him, that it was in- 
deed he, and that he was far above us in knowl- 



TO THE READER. Vll 

edge, I can see no reason why I should doubt 
his word, when by his order, the spirits of Paul, 
Zuingle, and others, have communicated 
through me. He was known as an honest man 
while living here, and I see no reason why 1 
should doubt him now. 

In relation to the writing of the epistle on the 
Bible, I will state that I first requested the spirit 
of Paul to give me some letters, by which I 
might learn something of the manner, or the 
way that spirits communicate to earth, and also 
the goodness of spirits after death. He an- 
swered me that he had another work for me to 
do : that he should write an epistle on the Bible 
first, and then, perhaps, he would comply with 
my desires. The writing then commenced by 
impressions. I was required to seat myself at 
a writing-desk, at a certain hour in the day — to 
remain as passive as possible — to ask no ques- 
tions, but let my mind be free from any thought, 
on a single passage in the Bible. Sometimes I 
was impressed to open the Bible for reference, 
and was often required to do so ; but I never re- 
ferred to it except under the influence of the 
spirit. 



Vlll TO THE READER. 

In writing, the words seemed to come to my 
mind, one by one ; and I could not tell what a 
sentence to come would be, nor do I even have 
any conceptions of what is to come. 

I have also been a medium for speaking, 
while in a conscious state, as in writing, and 
have frequently spoken for half an hour at a 
time, with great power — the spirit controlling 
my voice, and seeming to place his mind in my 
forehead, while mine lay listening. Also, in 
speaking, my voice has often changed when dif- 
ferent spirits have spoken through me. The 
speaking commenced a few days after I became 
a medium, but I have not lately adopted this 
mode of communication, because I am obliged 
to be a recorder. 

I am also a slight medium for tippings, al- 
though I do not receive communications in that 
way. The sounds I have never heard. 

I will also state, that in numerous instances, 
the hand-writing of the spirit, while living, is 
seen ; although I knew nothing of the person 
while he dwelt here below. 

Alfred W. Hoar. 

Westminster, Mass., Jaru 25th, 1853. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 



—$ 9 ■ <> t < >- 



The Bible is a Book, used at the present 
day, as the Word of God ; and I being a 
humble servant of God, He has given me 
liberty, to write a few words in relation to 
its authenticity. 

The Bible, when first written, was 
nothing more than a Book written through 
mediums, as I am now writing through my 
medium. Its contents were not composed 
of all the Books that are in it at present. 
Some of the Old Testament was written by 
men who had no more power than I had to 
preach the gospel before I had my conver- 
sion. 

The first Book in the Old Testament was 
written by a man years before it was said 



10 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

to have been done by men at the present 
day. It is about as true as any fictitious 
work that is printed now. Its starting 
point is, in some measure, true, as it relates 
to the beginning of the world ; but the 
names that are recorded, are as fictitious, as 
some of the fables of olden times. 

I will not relate how man was placed 
here. I understand that some of the Hea- 
venly Spirits will write a Work on that 
subject. These Books, I will not deny, 
contain some truth, as any other book will 
that is written ; but to call it a Divine book 
is a sin against God, and the good sense of 
man himself. Over eighteen hundred years 
have passed away since Christ left the 
world, and yet man is still in ignorance of 
it. 

The next Book of the, so-called, Bible, is 
Exodus. This Book, as the others, received 
no inspiration from God, but was written 
by an enlightened man, who had some wis- 
dom ; and was as good a Book as could be 
expected in that day, when men, after they 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 11 

had once been nearly swept from the face 
of the earth, had become again enlightened. 
In this book are the ten commandments, 
which are very good, and show the wisdom 
of the man who wrote them. The people 
of a certain tribe were oppressed by their 
rulers, and kept in slavery ; and this man 
having some of the principles of God's will, 
brought down to him by an incorrect tradi- 
tion of His manifestations to the people of 
earth, before they were swept from it, was 
wont to assist the lowly to regain their 
liberty. After having done so by the sword, 
he wrote an account of their trials in this, 
and the three books that follow. The com- 
mandments he collected by tradition, at the 
same time writing them and declaring him- 
self inspired by the Gods to write, but un- 
fortunately, like many inspired persons, he 
was void of the spirit of God in many 
things. His name is called Moses, in his 
writings, and also in other parts of the 
Bible ; but his true name was not Moses, 
and many of the names given in the Books 



12 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

of the Old Testament are not the real names 
of the characters, but used to show their 
goodness or a particular feature of their 
character; and many of the names, as I 
have before said, never existed. But as 
they are recorded at the present day to rep- 
resent the characters used, I shall call 
them, as in the days of Christ, by the names 
written. 

The next Book in the so-called Bible is 
Leviticus. The rules and precepts are good, 
so far as they relate to the well-being of 
man, but they are not directly from God, as 
man supposes them to be. 

The fourth Book in the Bible is Num- 
bers. This Book was written by the same 
man that wrote the previous one. Its laws 
are a continuation of the same. It signifies 
what man has made it, the numbering of 
the tribes which lived in that particular 
part of the world ; but they were not num- 
bered by God, as the words of the book 
imply. In the very first Chapter we see it 
said, that the Lord caused the people to be 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 13 

numbered for war ! Such an absurdity as 
that ought to be cast into the lowest depth 
of the infernal regions. 

I would not be understood as saying, that 
all now written in this Book, as well as the 
other Books I have mentioned, as written 
by this man, was written by him. By no 
means — it would be an imputation upon 
him, by reporting him as saying, that the 
Lord did all the devilish deeds recorded, by 
commanding his people, through Moses, to 
do them. This was, to a great extent, 
owing to the frequent translations of this 
part of the Bible, and also the superstition 
of the men by whom it was done. Indeed, 
the frequent occurrence of the words " God" 
and " Lord," was not in the Books of this 
man, when first composed by him. 

The next Book in the Bible is Joshua. 
This Book is a Book written by a General, 
who kept an account of the battles he fought. 
Almost the whole Book is false. It begins 
by saying that God gave certain powers to 
one man, and ordered him to carry out that 



14 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

power on earth. O ! how can man read 
this Book, and think that it came from 
Heaven? Man, how small is thy judgment, 
to think that God would cause such a book 
to be written in His name. You are curs- 
ing your God by so doing; and it is time 
for you to repent before the day of your 
judgment come. 

In this Book it is written that God ruled 
over their battles, and caused man to slay 
his brother man ; and that he caused the 
sun to stand still, for man to continue his 
work of devastation and slaughter. 

This you will find written in the 10th 
Chapter of Joshua, from the 12th to the 20th 
verse. O man ! what do you think, and 
how do you conceive of God when you 
think that he is such a Being as this Book 
describes Him. 

The next Book in the Bible is Judges. 
This Book is about the same as the others ; 
and it needs no argument to show that it is 
void of inspiration. 

The next Book is Ruth. This is a small 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 15 

Book, without inspiration, the same as the 
others I have mentioned. Its contents will 
need no revision, as it is as unimportant to 
the human family, as other Books of a simi- 
lar nature. 

The next Book is Samuel. This Book 
gives some history of the people in those 
days; and a part of it is correct; but the 
names used in the book as being appointed 
by God to rule over them, are not true. 

The next Book is the second Book of 
Samuel. This is of similar nature as the 
other. Indeed, almost all the Books I have 
mentioned so far are full of wicked acts, 
committed by the so-called disciples of God. 
Acts of adultery were committed by one of 
God's appointed Kings. This we find in 
the 11th Chapter and 4th verse, in the 
second Book of Samuel. Can any man 
believe the Bible inspired, when he reads in 
it about God appointing such men as those 
to rule over his people? It is to show such 
absurdities as this that I was called from 
Heaven to correct it. Men seem so blinded 
that it is impossible for them to understand it. 



16 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next book is the first Book of Kings, 
and is a continuation of the history of that 
age. This Book was written by order of 
Solomon — so named, for his wisdom in 
governing his country — as far as the Chap- 
ter that speaks of his death ; and the rest 
was finished by historians, who wrote in 
the same style. This Book, and indeed all 
the Books of the Old Testament, were taken 
by Demetrius Phalereus about 280 years 
before Christ, and translated into the Greek 
language. Multitudes of mistakes crept in 
at this translation. His putting the Books 
that were written by spirits, that had left 
the earth, with those written by false 
prophets, and all found in the hands of the 
priests, will show that the Books of the Old 
Testament are not reliable : and at this day 
it will be useless to point out the errors in 
each Book; and therefore, I shall only give 
them a passing notice, showing which were 
written by the aid of an invisible power, 
and which were not. 

The next Book is the second Book of 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 17 

Kings. This Book was written at a later 
period, and receives no inspiration. The 
contents of it are similar to the other Books 
mentioned. 

The next Books are the first and second 
Books of Chronicles. They are a continu- 
ance of history, written for the church, 
which at this time was at variance with 
a manifestation, similar to what you see at 
this day. These Books were written 700 
years before Christ, and have no inspira- 
tion. 

The next Book is Ezra. This Book was 
written by a person bearing its name, with- 
out inspiration. This person did, at a cer- 
tain time, have a power given him beyond, 
his own, after a manifestation had closed 
similar to what is now seen on earth. Be- 
ing a priest of the church, which was at 
variance with the new church, founded on 
the principles brought down to them from 
the spirit world, he, after beholding several 
visions, went to the new church, and there 
he was soon promoted to a lofty position 

2* 



18 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

among them for his learning. The power 
with which he was blessed soon disappeared, 
and he beheld it no more. Soon after, with 
wickedness in his heart, he collected what 
books he could lay his hands on that were 
written by the Prophets, having inspiration, 
and also wrote the Books of Ezra, Nehemi- 
ah, and Esther, by his own hand, with the 
assistance of Nehemiah, who also turned 
from the true church. The Books called 
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Jonah, 
Micah, and Malachi, were taken by him, 
from the hands of the Prophets, and written 
according to his desires in some things, and 
so written that neither the old nor the new 
church need take oifence. The true copies 
were destroyed by him, and his copies were 
translated into the Greek by Phalereus. 
The Book of Job was nearly all of it writ- 
ten through mediums. God, at this time, 
caused the spirits, who had departed to 
Heaven, to communicate to the earth, as 
they do at the present day. This Book 
was written by a man whose name was 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 19 

Job, who had been in affliction almost all 
his days. He lived in the western part of 
Asia. The communications came as they 
do now — slow at first, but they began to 
increase, until God caused a spirit to write 
a book through His medium. 

This Book would have been correct, had 
it not been that man, by passing it through 
so many languages, during the dark ages 
of the earth, destroyed its purity. 

The next Book is the Psalms. These 
were written in the same way, and some of 
them are correct. 

The 1st, 2d, 9th, and 51st Psalms, and 
others of a similar spirit towards God, have 
been brought down nearly correct; and let 
me say here that all which speak harmony, 
love, and peace, towards God, and each 
object of his creation, was given with in- 
spiration ; but all that is not harmony, love 
and peace, is void of inspiration. The 
Psalms were written at different periods ; 
and when we say that the Psalms were 
written through mediums, we do not intend 



20 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

you to understand that the whole Book was 
so written. 

The next Book is Proverbs. This Book 
was collected in a similar way to the 
Psalms ; and parts of it were written by the 
spirit world through men. 

The next Book is Ecclesiastes. This 
Book is a good Book for every one to have. 
It was written by mediums, like the Books 
I have mentioned before. 

The rest of the Books of the Old Testa- 
ment are Solomon's Songs, Isaiah, Jeremi- 
ah, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 
Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, 
Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These 
are all the Books recorded in the Old Tes- 
tament; but there were several more writ- 
ten. They were lost, however, by the 
barbarism of the people at that age of the 
earth, and some were burned at several 
places. I will only speak of these. These 
Books were all written through mediums, 
and are somewhat correct in the main. I 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 21 

shall not speak particularly on these sub- 
jects, for I wish to write on the latter part 
of the Bible. But when man finds things 
in the Bible which do not treat God as a 
Being of great mercy, then those passages 
are wrong; and the superstition of the 
times, incorrect translations, and other 
causes which I have mentioned, have 
caused all the fearful errors of the Old 
Testament ; and, even in the days of Christ, 
it was declared as not binding on the people 
of that day. Let me say unto you, O man, 
at this day, in regard to the Old Testament, 
— Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin. 



22 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 



THE NEW TESTAMENT, 



The New Testament is a book of noted 
excellence ; but some of it is wrong, and I 
wish to dwell on it to some considerable 
length. The birth of Christ, in the annals 
of history, was once of the greatest import- 
ance to man. It broke forth on the haughty 
world, like a thunderclap. He was born in 
the western part of Asia, of poor parents. 
God adopted him as his Son from his birth, 
as he would every individual who should 
walk in the path that Christ walked in 
from his birth. His character was of a 
peaceful nature, and he walked in the way 
of God ; if any person was ever inspired he 
was ; but he was nothing more than a 
Medium. He was, however, permitted 
that privilege throughout his whole earthly 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 23 

life. The reason why I say he might have 
been inspired, is because, men may call 
mediums inspired, and they are so, in one 
sense of the word ; but that is not my sub- 
ject. I have only written this to show how 
Christ performed his works on earth. 

The first Book in the New Testament is 
that of St. Matthew. This Book gives a 
history of the work of Christ when he was 
on earth. The First Chapter gives a gene- 
alogy of Christ, which was gathered by 
Matthew from the Old Testament, trans- 
lated by Phalereus and accordingly not 
truly correct. To the earth, however, it is 
unimportant whether the true genealogy is 
given or not. From the 18th verse, it is 
not correct. As we have already noticed 
the birth of Christ, it will be sufficient to 
explain the verses that follow in this Chap- 
ter. The remainder speak of the great 
men of the east going to see Christ. This 
Chapter is true in the main. The mediums 
had performed to an alarming extent among 
the people, and after the birth of Christ the 



24 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

kings determined to put a stop to it, as men 
will try to do in these days. O man ! you 
sing praises to us oftentimes on account ot 
our persecution. Now you will do the 
same thing yourselves. O, Churches ! See 
that you do not attempt to do this thing, 
like the churches of old ; for hard will be 
your lot hereafter if you do. 

In the third Chapter there are several 
verses wrong, as the 6th, 11th, and 13th, to 
the 17th, and all that relate to baptism in 
water. John, as a medium, was as strong 
a one as lived in those times. He wrote 
many epistles, and many of these are in the 
Bible. He was a good, honest man,- — 
upright in his character. But he never 
attempted to baptize one by going into the 
water, or any other way. When he wrote 
about baptism, he meant to be baptized in 
doing good to the human race. And in 
those places where he went, he used the 
phrase, " come unto rne, and be baptized in 
doing good." 

And when John spoke to Christ, when he 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 25 

came to him to be baptized, he forbade him 
by saying, " he had need to be baptized of 
him in doing good." 

The next Chapter is nearly correct, and 
therefore I shall not speak upon it. And 
hereafter when a Chapter is right in the 
sense of it, I shall not speak upon it, as I 
wish to make as short an epistle as possible, 
and I shall leave man to see for himself, 
what I do not point out. 

The next Chapter is one of the produc- 
tions from the land of spirits. If man will 
only read this Chapter alone, it is enough 
for him to know what God wants him to 
do. This Chapter is almost entirely, word 
for word, as the spirit spake it through the 
medium. Read, O m&n ! and see what the 
spirit said in regard to the Old Testament, 
— of Adultery, of Oath-taking ; of resisting 
evil; of going to law; of love to their 
enemy. Look into your heart, O man ! and 
see if you keep the sayings of the spirit, 
through Christ, in regard to these things. 
Remember this Chapter, O man ! and live it 



26 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

out through the whole of your life. " For if 
ye love them who love you, what reward 
have ye? Do not even the publicans the 
same ? And if ye salute your brethren only, 
what do ye more than others ? Do not even 
the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, 
even as your Father who is in Heaven is 
perfect." 

The next three Chapters in this Book, 
are very good Chapters, and nearly correct 
in language, as it reads in them. Christ 
had the power to heal the sick. He had 
this power given to him, to show the people 
a greater power than men formerly pos- 
sessed, and to turn them from their wicked- 
ness. And so men will find it in these 
days, if they do not return from their wick- 
edness. 

The next three Chapters, in turn, are 
nearly correct, except in one or two in- 
stances, when it is said that Christ gave 
power to his disciples to heal the sick, it is 
not correct : for Christ had not this power 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 27 

to give to any one. God himself is the only 
being who has that power to give. 

The next three Chapters, in turn, are 
about the same as the others. In these 
Chapters an account is given of the death 
of John. Herod put him to death on per- 
sonal accounts. 

In the next three Chapters there are sev- 
eral things that are wrong. In the latter 
part of thelSth chapter, Christ is spoken of 
as feeding a great many people with bread 
and fishes. This was not correct. Christ 
always, as he went about doing good, en- 
tertained people when he had the means of 
so doing ; but he never entertained so many 
as is recorded. If men consider that it 
was a miracle he performed in feeding so 
many, they must first consider how far, 
what man regards as miracles, can be car- 
ried by the spirits of another world. In the 
healing power, it can be performed without 
putting aside the laws of man's physical 
nature. But if 5000 men were fed with a 
few loaves and fishes, it would put aside 



28 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

the laws of man's physical nature; and 
furthermore, no spirit of God would attempt 
to accomplish an object destructive and 
contrary to the laws of man's physical 
nature. And lastly, God never gave power 
to any spirit or object of his creation to put 
aside any law of an object of his creation. 
These reasons are sufficient to prove, that 
the sayings in relation to Christ feeding so 
many people are wrong. The 16th Chapter 
is nearly correct, if you take the view I 
have given to the subject of Christ's feeding 
the multitude. The 26th verse, if it is 
rightly understood, does not mean, that a 
man will lose his soul. And surely, how 
can a man lose his soul? And if God 
destroyed one soul, He would sweep the 
whole human race from existence. "And 
what would it profit a man if he shall gain 
the whole world, and lose his own soul, or 
what shall a man give in exchange for his 
soul?" 

In the 17th Chapter, I find it speaks 
about the transfiguration of Christ. This 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 29 

is true, except as it relates to Moses and 
Elias. These spirits did not appear there. 

The next Chapter, the 18th, is wrong in 
some parts of it, — as the 12th, 13th, and 
14th verses. These verses relate to man's 
going astray from God, and should be taken 
in their right sense. In the 12th verse it 
reads thus: — "How think ye? If a man 
have a hundred sheep, and one of them be 
gone astray ; doth he not leave the ninety- 
and-nine, and go into the mountains, and 
to seek that which is gone astray f 7 In the 
next verse it is said, that the man after he 
has found the lost sheep, is more rejoiced 
than over his ninety-and-nine, which are 
not lost. Now, God in heaven does not 
think more of one sheep than he does of 
another ; his goodness is alike to all ; and 
when one has gone astray, and is found, he 
holds him in the same estimation as his 
other sheep which have not gone astray. 
In this light ought these passages to be 
regarded. The verses also that speak o£ 

3* 



30 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

everlasting fire, to the persons that have 
gone astray, are incorrect. 

The next Chapter, (19th), is a very good 
one, and nearly correct. The next two 
Chapters, 20th and 21st, are about the 
same as the other. The next Chapter is 
the 22d. Many verses are wrong, — as the 
11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 32d; as well as 
several others, I have not time to point out 
here. In these verses I have named, the 
Resurrection is spoken of, and it is a para- 
ble to show what the Kingdom of God is. 
It speaks of casting away such as are not 
prepared to go into Heaven ; and it also 
says, that many are called, but few are 
chosen. God, in his wisdom and mercy to 
man, has ordered that all men shall at last 
be happy. He has ordered that wicked 
men shall, for a little while, suffer punish- 
ment by their being in a roving state ; and 
they are obliged to remain with the evil 
spirit. But when they have paid for their 
crimes, they can go into the spheres of 
Heaven and stay there forever and ever. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 31 

I have explained this here, so that hereafter, 
I need not speak of it in the several pas- 
sages that follow. 

The next Chapter is the 24th. In this 
Chapter there are many important things 
for man to know. It speaks in the first 
place, of the destruction of the Temple. 
This is true, for shortly after, one of the 
Roman Emperors destroyed it, and all its 
inhabitants. After the 3d verse, to the 
51st, it speaks of the last days of the 
world. Some of it is correct, and some is 
not. When it speaks of great tribulations, 
and famines, and wars, it is correct, and 
also about the evil spirit deceiving the very 
elect. This was the case, and so it is now. 
The evil spirit is going around at the pres- 
ent day, yea at the present hour, deceiving 
the people. Beware of him, O man, and 
see that he does not deceive you in these 
things. For, as Christ then told his disci- 
ples, to beware, for the Kingdom of God 
was at hand, so, in this day, I tell you, O 
man, to beware, for the hour is nigh at 



32 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

hand. This earth will not roll over but a 
few hundred years, before it will return to 
its former state. Yet man will not observe 
the signs of the times. 

In the 33dj 34th, and 35th verses, man 
made a wrong construction ; the language, 
and the words, as they are written in the 
Bible, are wrong. In the Bible it reads 
thus (3d verse), — " When ye shall see all 
these things, know that it is near, even at 
the doors." This ought to read thus, — 
When man shall see all these things, let 
him know that it is near, even at the doors. 

The next verse reads thus, — il Verily I 
say unto you, this generation shall not pass, 
till these things be fulfilled." This verse 
ought to read thus, — Verily I say unto you, 
the generation of man shall not pass away, 
till all these things are fulfilled. 

In the next verse it reads thus, — u Heaven 
and earth shall pass away, but rny words 
shall not pass away." This is true, in the 
main, but the word Heaven, should be left 
out. In the 36th verse, it reads thus, — 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 33 

" But of that day and hour knoweth no 
man, — no, not even the angels in Heaven, 
but my Father only." This verse is some- 
what wrong. Those of the higher spheres 
in Heaven, now know when the hour is to 
come. All spirits from the 3d sphere can 
tell correctly, and understand it, so as to 
tell it to earth ; and the angels in Heaven 
know always when God will give some 
wondrous sign to the inhabitants of the 
earth. Verily, one of the signs is before 
you. 

The first part of the verse is true, as it 
relates to man not knowing the hour, when 
these things will take place. In this Chap- 
ter it speaks of " two women, who shall be 
grinding at the mill, — the one shall be taken, 
and the other left." This verse, as I have 
said of others on the same subject, is wrong. 
It might, in one sense be right, for God will 
leave the wicked for a little while, and then 
take them to Heaven when they become 
right. 

The next Chapter is the 25th. This 



34 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

Chapter speaks of the ten virgins, and of 
the talents. These parables are good and 
nearly correct. They show how man ought 
to live on earth; and their sentiment is 
true. In the 41st and 46th verses, the lan- 
guage is entirely incorrect. As I have 
spoken of hell before, I need not speak of it 
to any extent now. Hell, as I have said 
before, is no particular place. There is no 
fire in or about it. The judgment comes 
to every person as soon as he leaves this 
world. He is immediately taken into the 
presence of his God, and judged according 
to the good works which he has done on 
earth. 

The next Chapter, in the remainder of 
this Book are the 26th, 27th, and 29th. 
These Chapters relate to the Crucifixion 
and Resurrection of Christ. Christ had at 
this time, caused such an excitement among 
the people, that the chief priests and scribes 
took measures to get rid of him. They 
tried every means in their power, at first, 
to silence him, by keeping their people 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 35 

under their control ; but finding that this 
failed, they at last determined to bring him 
before the rulers of the country. They 
indicted him on the ground that he was a 
blasphemer against God, and that he was 
destroying their power over the people. In 
the 20th Chapter it also speaks of one of 
his disciples, betraying him into the hands 
of the priests and scribes. This is true, — 
even one of his noted disciples betrayed 
him. Thus was Christ taken into the 
hands of the priests and scribes. And be- 
ware, O priests and scribes, in these days, 
that you do not do the same thing to the 
disciples of God; for hard will be your lot 
if you do. 

In the 27th Chapter it speaks of the death 
of Christ. This Chapter is correct. The 
wicked priests and elders, at last, succeeded 
in causing him to be nailed to the cross. 
Thus did man treat Christ ; and as I look 
upon the earth, I blush with scorn to see 
man thus treat his brother man, in these 
days; and then call upon the Bible and 



36 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

Christ to save them. O man, (I must repeat 
it again), hard will be your lot at your 
judgment, if you do not repent. O ye 
priests and elders, do you know what you 
are doing? Are your hearts blind to the 
sufferings at your own doors? Look ye 
Ministers of the present day, and see your 
sins against God. There are but few among 
you, as in the days of old, who would not 
crucify the same Christ, if he should appear 
on earth again. Even in some parts of the 
country that I am writing in, the Chief 
Priests hold their brothers under them, and 
make them serve them as in the days of 
old. O, look, ye ministers at this, never 
open the Book which Christ preached while 
he was on earth, until you are willing to 
treat your brother as yourself. You may 
call this blasphemy against your sacred 
persons ; but remember, that as in the days 
of Christ, hard will be your lot, if you 
attempt to injure the lowest person on 
earth. You now call the spiritual manifes- 
tations around you, the works of the evil 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 37 

spirit, but you know not, that you have the 
evil spirit in your own hearts. Remember 
this warning before it is too late to repent ; 
for soon your hour may draw nigh, when 
you shall say you have no time to repent. 

In the last Chapter, it speaks of the Re- 
surrection of Christ. After Christ had 
arisen from the tomb, his spirit went to see 
his disciples, to give them a parting word 
before it took its final resting place in Hea- 
ven. He entreated them to go into every 
part of the world, to preach his gospel, al- 
though he did not say that all power was 
given him, both in heaven and earth. 

The next Book is St. Mark. This Book 
gives the history of Christ ; but as I have 
spoken of some of his works, I shall not re- 
peat them here. When any of the Chap- 
ters in this Book are not in accordance with 
the doctrine that I have spoken and shall 
continue to speak unto you, then you may 
know that it is a mistake in the Book, and 
I will not stop to point it out here. 

The next Book is Luke. This Book is 

4 



38 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

similar to the other, being compiled from 
the life of Christ, by his disciples, as the 
other Books were which I have named. 
These different Books were written so that 
the people in those days might see the 
truth of Christ's works. And, in respect to 
the miracles which he performed before the 
eye of man, they are to be taken as things 
of time, which have been and are now 
shown to the world. Those Books which 
are now in the Bible, as I have said before, 
have been altered in the sense by the trans- 
lation. There were several other Books 
written on the works of Christ ; and of the 
character of them, man may judge from 
what is in the Book ; and the mediums of 
the Books that are in the Bible, compiled 
the communications that they received from 
the invisible world ; and they being gener- 
ally unlearned men, did not always under- 
stand the sense that the invisible agent 
wished them to understand. To corrobor- 
ate this, let me turn you to the mediums in 
these days. The 1st, 2d, and 3d Chapters 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 39 

are not correct in the main ; but I have be- 
fore spoken unto you of them. In the birth 
of John there was nothing worthy of notice 
at this time. In the 9th Chapter it speaks 
of Christ casting out devils, as in other 
places in the Book. The evil spirits, at 
that time, were frequently entering the me- 
diums, which caused them to be possessed 
of evil intentions ; and they were even hurt 
bodily by evil spirits, and Christ was often 
casting them out, by the aid of the holy 
and true spirits; and his disciples were 
often displeased, because they had not al- 
ways that power. But Christ reproached 
them in the 41st verse, which I would re- 
quest that the mediums in this day would 
listen to and take warning also. When 
John spoke, and forbade a medium to hear 
Christ, — " Forbid him not," said Jesus, 
" for he that is not against us is for us." 
Remember this, O mediums. 

There are also many other things in this 
Book which are incorrect; but I have spoken 
of them already, and will not speak of them 
again. 



40 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Book is St. John. This Book 
was written by John. He was a good man, 
and walked in the path of righteousness. 
In the first Chapter, some men suppose that 
the " Light" and " Word " were used 
by John as meaning Christ ; but in the 
8th, 9th and 12th verses, you will under- 
stand the meaning of John — 8th verse, 
" He was not that Light, but was sent to 
bear witness of that Light." This refers to 
John himself; but in the 9th, he explains 
the Light which he came to bear witness 
of. — " That was the true Light, which 
lighteth every man that cometh into the 
world. Who made man? — And He that 
made him, — is He not the Light?" In the 
12th verse — "But as many as received 
Him, to them gave He power to become 
the sons of God, even to them that believe 
on His name." This shows you that as 
many as received God, are the sons of God. 
What more was Christ? And ivas he not, 
then, the son of God? The 14th verse — 
" That the Word" (meaning God) "was 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 41 

made flesh," — although vague as it reads, 
is correct, when man understands he was 
created by God, and made to exist in the 
flesh; and, although the Word is the 
author of all creation, man has his origin at 
the Great Word. There are many other 
things, if understood literally, are wrong ; 
but I have explained how John baptized. 

In the third Chapter of this Book it 
speaks of one of the rulers of the people go- 
ing to see Christ, to know what to do to be 
saved. 

I have spoken before on the baptism. I 
need not speak of it again at great length. 
But as this Chapter is of some importance 
to man, I will go through it. The third 
verse reads thus: "Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, except a man be born again, he 
cannot see the kingdom of God." The 23d 
verse reads thus: " And John also was 
baptizing in iEnon, near to Salim, because 
there was much water there, and they came 
and were baptized." God is a being of 
great mercy, and he gives every man his 

4* 



42 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

just reward. Heaven may be termed the 
happiness of the spirit ; for the true heaven 
is all happiness, joy and peace. All spirits 
love to serve God in heaven. Here on 
earth man's nature is not in communion 
with God, and he needs to be born again 
towards God, so that he can do the works 
God designed he should do. To be born 
again, is to do good to all. When any man 
has been doing the works of darkness, and 
sinning against his fellow-men by treating 
them ill, he needs to be born again of the 
spirit of God. The verses which I have 
spoken of, which relate to man's being 
born of water, are incorrect, and ought to 
read thus : " Verily, verily, I say unto 
thee, except a man be born of the spirit of 
God, he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
God, where the holy angels are, and all 
that is holy in the sight of God." The 
verse which relates to John baptizing with 
water, is incorrect, and ought to read thus : 
" And John also was baptizing (in iEnon, 
near to Salim) the people in doing good ; 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 43 

and they came, and were baptized." In 
the 5th Chapter, it speaks of Christ healing 
the sick on the Sabbath day ; and that the 
people and the priests rebuked him for it. 
This is true ; Christ had all days alike with 
him. His doctrine and preaching was to 
do good on earth, on all days. He had no 
set time to work, but went about, on 
every day and hour, in doing good. 

In the 6th Chapter, when Christ speaks 
of coming down from heaven, to do the will 
of Him that sent him, and also of his speak- 
ing — " He that eateth my flesh and drink- 
eth my blood, dwelleth in me and I in 
him ; " he shows you the meaning in the 
63d verse. " It is the spirit that quicken- 
eth, — the flesh profiteth nothing ; the words 
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and 
they are life." This shows you that it was 
the spirit that cometh down from heaven, 
and spoke through Christ, saying that he 
had come to do the will of God. And 
Christ says " he quickenethmy flesh;" but 
the flesh itself profiteth nothing. There- 



44 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

fore, he that believeth in the sayings of the 
spirit, the spirit dwelleth in him, because he 
does the works of the spirit to his fellow- 
beings. 

In the 7th Chapter, 20th verse, it is shown 
to you, O man, what the people said of 
Christ in his days. " Thou hast a Devil," 
they said, " who goeth about to kill thee V 7 
What do the people say in these days 7 
They say to the mediums, " Thou hast a 
Devil, who goeth about to kill thee V That 
is, the Devil (some great and monstrous 
beast, as they imagine) is entering the me- 
diums, and is going to kill them. Some 
even say, that he has killed some already, 
and is going to kill more. O, when shall 
superstition depart from the midst of men? 
When will they know that the greatest 
Devil is in their own hearts ? When will 
they learn that all the Devil there is, is in 
man ? And when will they learn that if a 
man dies with a Devil, that Devil will fol- 
low him until he casts him off. Jesus says, 
" I have done one work, and ye all marvel." 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 45 

In the 8th Chapter and 58th verse, it should 
read thus : " Verily, verily, 1 say unto you, 
before Abraham, am I Christ/ 7 — meaning 
in the works which he performed, while the 
people meant in regard to his existence. 

I will not speak any more of this Book, 
as I have before spoken ; and will speak of 
the most important things that are written 
in the New Testament. 

The next Book is the Acts of the Apostles. 
This Book was written by Luke, and com- 
piled by him, by means of the personal 
sketches of the other Apostles. This trea- 
tise was intended to show the people of that 
day what mighty works the Apostles had 
done as mediums. 

In the second Chapter is a sermon of 
Peter ; and in the 17th verse he prophesies 
of things to come; and the things which he 
prophesieth, by the aid of the spirit, have 
surely come. Behold this epistle is one of 
the wonders, that God has seen fit to allow 
his servant to show unto you. His saying 
that "God will pour out his spirit upon all 



46 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

flesh," is used to represent, that God will 
cause the spirits to come to earth, and pour 
out their words upon all flesh. This ser- 
mon of Peter is nearly correct, except in 
some words, which I have before pointed 
out. 

The 4th Chapter shows you the success 
of Peter and John among the people ; and 
it also shows you the persecution that they 
received at the hands of the chief priests. 
Let the 19th verse be a warning to the 
chief priests in these days. So strong was 
their reasoning, that many people believed 
on them. In the 5th Chapter, it speaks of 
two persons selling out a possession, and 
bringing it to Peter, and saying unto him 
that they had sold out their lands, and had 
brought their money to give to him and 
his disciples. Peter answering, asked them 
if they had brought all of it, to lay it at the 
apostles' feet. They both replied that they 
had. Peter, then looking into their thoughts, 
replied — " O, ye wicked persons ! — why 
will ye lie to the spirit ? " They immediate- 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 47 

ly fell down and gave up the ghost. Al- 
though the people thought that it was a 
miracle, yet this was not the case. The 
death of Ananias and Sapphira was caused 
by their fear and astonishment, in finding 
that Peter knew that they had kept back 
part of the price, for they had told no man 
they had done so ; and, furthermore, their 
physical condition was such that their fear 
and astonishment led to their death. 

The 7th Chapter is incorrect ; but I have 
spoken to you in the Old Testament about 
Moses, and those that are written in the 
first Book. After Stephen had spoken unto 
them of their own prophets, as the church 
considered them, he spake unto them of 
their doings, in their own time, to the true 
prophets. But the priests took counsel and 
slayed him in the streets ; but, like a saint 
of God, he cried, u lay not this sin to their 
charge." 

In the 9th Chapter it speaks of my con- 
version. Before my conversion, I was ap- 
pointed by the priests to go and commit to 



48 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK, 

prison all persons that did not believe in 
the Jewish church. There were numerous 
small churches establishing themselves over 
all the country around Jerusalem ; and 
they began to alarm the rulers in that part 
of the Birrnan Empire. I was then myself 
a cruel man, and I treated all Christians 
with great severity, and many did I slay in 
the streets of the city. On one occasion I 
was sent to Damascus, to fetch what Chris- 
tians I could find there to Jerusalem, to be 
imprisoned and slain. As it is recorded, I 
was going along the road, when all of a 
sudden I was stopped by an unseen power, 
who whispered in my mind, " Saul, Saul, 
why persecutest thou me?" I replied that 
I did not know him, nor had I tried to per- 
secute him. The spirit answering, said, 
"Saul ; it is hard for you to kick against 
the pricks. I am Christ, whom thou perse- 
cutest. Repent, O Saul." I stood trembling, 
and asked, " What he wished me to do?" 
The spirit replied, "Go into the city and 
preach the gospel." My heart was then 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 40 

changed to the right, and by the help of the 
spirit I was able to reach the city. I then 
went to certain disciples there, but I was 
not entirely blind, as it is recorded, but it 
was true that my eyes were dazzled by the 
light of the spirit. Having talked with the 
disciples, I went into the streets to preach 
the gospel of Christ, and many believed. 
Great was the surprise of the priests to see 
me preaching the gospel of Christ, and they 
soon began to devise means to put me to 
death, but it is recorded in the ninth Chap- 
ter, that I was let down from the walls of 
the city by night by the disciples. I will 
now pass over the remainder of the sayings 
in this Book, as they are nearly correct, 
and show the manner that the invisible 
power worked in those days. It would be 
well for man to read these sayings and see 
if the same things do not happen in these 
days. 

5 



50 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Book is my Epistle to the 
Romans. 



This Epistle, as it is written, is incor- 
rect in many points, and having the 
power to make known to you the things 
which are correct, and which are not, I will 
speak unto you of this Book at some length. 
The first Chapter is a preface to the Book, 
and begins by showing the people their 
sins. This Chapter is correct, except in a 
few little words which do not alter the 
sense. The second Chapter is correct ; and 
in the 11th verse it speaks of God having 
no respect of persons. He judges every 
man according to the deeds he has done 
while he lives on earth, and it becomes you, 
O man, to live a life of honesty while you 
live on earth, for every man who does what 
he wishes others to do to him, will enter 
the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The third Chapter is correct. The fourth 
Chapter is not correct, as it is written, when 
it speaks of Abraham. There was no man 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 51 

in olden time by that name; but there was 
a righteous man who lived in olden time, 
who went by another name. But he had 
no power from heaven by which he per- 
formed his great works; nor had he the 
power of a medium. This was a mistake 
in the translation of the Book of the church, 
and also from books not written by medi- 
ums or prophets. In my brief survey of 
the Old Testament, man will understand 
the true cause of all that is incorrect in the 
New, in regard to these things. The next 
Chapter, the fifth, is nearly correct, except 
in a few words, as in the 14th verse. The 
verse should read thus, u Nevertheless 
death has reigned from the beginning of 
the world — even over them that have not 
sinned, after the similitude of transgres- 
sion/' 

The next Chapter, the sixth, is correct, 
only in a few words; but they do not alter 
the sense. 

The next Chapter, the 7th, speaks of the 
law of the land, and of its power over man 



52 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

as long as he liveth. This is correct, for 
man's nature is so made, that without law 
he could not live in the state in which he 
now lives on earth. Law on earth is the 
will of God; but God lets man make such 
laws as he chooses, and some wicked men 
may for a little while hold sway over his 
brother. But his fall is certain; for in 
the nature of man it is written, that he must 
treat every man alike ; but when man grows 
wicked, God sends the spirits to earth to 
check that power, and bring men from their 
fallen state to a higher one. Therefore, I 
say unto you, O man, live under the law as 
long as you live, for it is better for you to 
live under wicked men, than to resist the law 
by injuring the lowest person on earth ; but 
obey no law willingly, contrary to the law 
of God. And when wicked men rule over 
you, pray continually to bring their power 
to nought, in the manner that Christ did, 
when he was on earth. 

In the eighth Chapter it speaks of persons 
being carnally minded, and in the sixth 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 53 

verse it reads thus — " To be carnally mind- 
ed is death, but to be spiritually minded is 
life and peace." The meaning of this is, 
that to be after the world is death, but to 
be after the spirit is life eternal. God in 
his wisdom and mercy has placed man on 
earth to be happy, and he expects man will 
enjoy the world as long as he lives in the 
flesh. If men are worldly minded and fol- 
low out the doctrine that I have laid down, 
to be good to the poor, and treat every man 
alike, — if you, O man, follow out this in 
your life it will make no difference with 
you at your judgment, whether you are 
rich or poor. For the earth was made for 
man; and man was made to embellish the 
earth ; and, if he fulfills the law, to love one 
another, and treat every man as he would 
wish to be treated, he is spiritually minded. 
Although the flesh decayeth, the spirit lives, 
whether it be good or bad. God, as I have 
said, judges the rich as well as the poor, 
according to the deeds done in the flesh. 

5* 



54 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

These verses, that speak of this subject, 
should have this construction. 

In the next Chapter, it speaks of the 
names of olden time. These names are 
wrong, and some of them fictitious. In my 
original manuscript, when I was under the 
control of the spirit, these names were not 
applied; but when the works were written 
over again, by the persons and churches 
that I sent them to after my death, many 
of the names that they had in their posses- 
sion, were put in, as there were several 
mistakes in the epistles, that I wrote, they 
concluded that it must have been my mis- 
take. 

It is true, that I made mistakes in my 
writings, and that I wrote down many 
things that are not in accordance with the 
will of God. As I have said, when I was 
writing on the Old Testament, there were 
mediums in the early ages, but not so early 
as men at the present time suppose ; and 
the names recorded in the Bible mean some 
of these persons. The names used in this 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 55 

Chapter, and all other Chapters that have 
them, are not the true names that were 
given to them, while they were living. 

The 12th Chapter is correct, and the say- 
ings contained in it are necessary for a man 
to follow to be a disciple of God. 

In the thirteenth Chapter, first verse, it 
reads thus, "Let every soul be subject to 
the higher powers. For there is no power 
but of God, for the powers that be are 
ordained of God." The second verse reads 
thus, "Whosoever, therefore, that resisteth 
the power resisteth the ordinance of God ; 
and they that resist shall receive to them- 
selves damnation." This verse ought to 
read thus— " Whosoever resisteth the 
power therefore, does not resist the ordi- 
nance of God ; but those that do resist unto 
death must receive their damnation." The 
next verses that speak on this subject go to 
show, that we must not resist the law of 
earth unto death for conscience sake, and 
also if you wish to carry out God's com- 
mands on earth. 



56 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Chapter is the 14th. This is 
a true Chapter, and I will not speak of its 
precepts here. 

The next two Chapters close this Book, 
and they give the parting word to the 
people that I sent this epistle to. You will 
also notice in the 22d verse of the last 
Chapter, "I, Tertius, who wrote this 
epistle, salute you in the Lord." This is 
to have you understand that in writing this 
epistle, I had some other power beyond my 
own ; and it is true, that I wrote the greater 
part of the epistles under the influence of 
the invisible power, in the same manner 
that I am dictating to the medium. In the 
same manner I shall say, I, Paul, who 
wrote this epistle (that I am now writing,) 
salute you in the Lord. 

My next Epistle is unto the Corinthians. 

I will, in this epistle, correct such verses as 
are most against the laws of God — leaving 
others to be corrected by you as you find 
them contrary to the laws of God. In the 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 57 

first Chapter, from the 17th verse, man may 
understand the wisdom of God, in these 
manifestations. Are not the same things 
seen now as of old 1 In the 2d Chapter, 
14th verse — " But the natural man receiveth 
not the things of the spirit of God :" (that is 
those spirits that walk in the path of God,) 
" for they are foolishness unto him, neither 
can he know them, because they are spirit- 
ually discerned." Is not this the manner 
that men speak in these days? Do they 
not say that it is all foolishness to believe 
in the spiritual things that these manifesta- 
tions present to them ? I will not be so 
foolish, says one, as to believe this mani- 
festation. It is nothing ; and when I be- 
hold it, I wonder how foolish some men 
have become, to participate in this (so 
called) spiritual manifestation. Truly, can 
the natural man know not the things that 
are God's,- and those that belong to Him. 
He would vainly suppose that God could 
not perform greater things than himself, and 
he knows that he could not create spiritual 



58 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

manifestations; and, therefore, these mani- 
festations are foolishness to him, nor can he 
discern them. 

The 7th Chapter speaks of marriage. 
This Chapter was written by myself — 
not by the spirits who wrote through me. 
You will see it correct as it is written in 
the ninth verse — it reads thus, " But I 
speak this by permission, not by command- 
ment." It will be seen that I had the per- 
mission of the spirits to write this Chapter. 
In regard to marriages now, I would say 
unto you, O man, marry if you wish ; let 
every man and virgin act according to their 
own will ; and it is well to give in marriage, 
to avoid fornication, and for man to live in 
happiness on earth. It is the will of God 
to do so, but if you wish to marry, take one 
after your own mind, to avoid the troubles 
of earth. And I say unto you now, O man, 
that he that giveth not in marriage, doeth 
well, but he that giveth in marriage doeth 
better. Furthermore, I say unto you, O 
man, let your wives be equal to yourselves: 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 59 

and unto yon, O wives, let your husbands 
be equal to yourselves. Let both of you be 
equal before the law. 

In the 11th Chapter, 3d verse, it reads 
thus — " But I would have you know that 
the head of every man is Christ, and the 
head of every woman is the man, and the 
head of Christ is God." This verse, as the 
rest of the verses that follow in this Chap- 
ter, are somewhat wrong ; and the whole 
that speaks of women was not written by 
the spirit, but by me. The third verse 
ought to read thus — I would have you 
know that the head of man is God, and the 
head of woman is God. In regard to the 
covering, I now would say, let every person 
be persuaded in his or her own mind in re- 
gard to what you wear. In the 7th, 8th, 
and 9th verses, it says that the woman is of 
the man, and that she is the glory of the 
man. It is wrong; both male and female 
were made from the dust of the earth, and 
in the sight of God both are endowed with 
the same privileges to the earth. 



60 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The 12th Chapter shows you the diversi- 
ties of gifts, and yet all of the same spirit. 
Is it not so now among you as then ? Have 
you not now the gift of healing? the gift of 
wisdom — which have but shortly been 
made known unto you ? — of prophecy ? — 
discerning of spirits? — divers kinds of lan- 
guages ? And these are not all ; but other 
gifts will shortly be made manifest unto 
you, as time brings, to a greater perfection, 
these manifestations. And I would say 
unto you, Are all prophets? Are all teach- 
ers? Are all the workers of miracles? 
Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak 
with tongues ? But do not all these things 
come from the spirits ? And what one can 
perform, another has not given to him the 
power to perform. Look into these things, 
O man, and see if they are not so; let all 
try to get the best gift in peace and har- 
mony. 

In the 14th Chapter, 34th and 35th verses, 
it reads thus, " Let your women keep 
silence in the churches, for it is not permit- 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 61 

ted unto them to speak ; but they are com- 
manded to be under obedience, as also saith 
the law. And if they will learn any thing, 
let them ask their husbands at home ; for it 
is a shame for women to speak in the 
church. " These verses were not put in by 
the spirit, but I added some of my own 
thoughts as I wrote to the people ; but these 
verses are incorrect, as they were written 
by myself. I would now say unto you, O 
man, Let your women speak what they 
wish in all places, for it is the will of God 
that it should be so ; and if they wish to 
learn any thing, let them get it in all places 
where it will profit them to do so. And 
unto you, O women, let your husbands do 
the same in all things, for it is the will of 
God. 

In the 15th Chapter, it speaks of the res- 
urrection of the dead. This Chapter is not 
taken in its right sense by man. The body 
itself will not rise, but the spirit of the body; 
and the spirit of the body rises from the 
dead as soon as the body dies. It flies im- 



62 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

mediately to its God, and is judged accord- 
ing to its works on earth. At the close of 
the earth life, as it is written, the people 
will be changed in "the twinkling of an 
eye." And, hereafter, I shall speak of 
this. 

The next Chapter is the closing of my 
epistle, and it gives the usual salutations. 

The next Book is my Second Epistle to 
the Corinthians. 

I will pass over this Book as I did the 
other. In the fifth Chapter, 10th verse, it 
says that all must appear before the judg- 
ment seat of Christ. It ought to be, that all 
should appear before the judgment seat of 
God. God is the judge of all men, and to 
him all must go to be judged. In this 
epistle, I do not find much that alters the 
sense of it, as it was written by the spirit, 
and by myself; and I will, therefore, leave 
this epistle for man to follow, and if he sees 
a word that is contrary to what I have said 
in this short review of the Bible, he may 
leave it out. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 63 

My next Epistle, as it is placed in the 
Bible, is unto the Galalians. 

I will take the same review as in the 
other Book. The Chapters in this short 
epistle are nearly correct. In the ninth 
Chapter, 10th verse, it reads thus, "As we 
have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good 
unto all men, but especially unto them who 
are of the household of Faith." This ought 
to read thus, As we have, therefore, oppor- 
tunity, let us do good unto all men. 

My next Epistle is unto the Ephesians. 

In the second Chapter and third verse, it 
speaks as though men were the children of 
wrath. Although man is sinful before God, 
yet he is not the child of wrath. God is 
the same being to all men, and his power is 
just. In the 8th verse it reads thus — " For 
by grace are ye saved, through faith, and 
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." 
It ought to read thus — For by works are ye 
saved through grace, and that by your- 
selves — not the gift of God. 



64 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The 9th verse reads thus — " Not of works 
lest any man should boast." This should 
read thus — Let not any man boast of good 
works. 

In the fifth Chapter, from the 22d verse 
to the close, it speaks in regard to women 
obeying their husbands. This I have ex- 
plained before, so that man may see it is not 
the Christian principle. 

In the 6th Chapter, it speaks of servants 
being obedient to their masters. This is 
meant to be understood as meaning those 
that are living in families, where they are 
to labor for their good, and it exhorts them 
to be obedient to them for their good, and to 
the good of those for whom they labor. It 
means also that men should be servants to 
the laws of God, and obey them with due 
respect. 

The next Epistle is unto the Philippians. 

This Book was written by the help of 
Timotheus, and it is correct in the main 
principles of the Gospel, although some few 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 65 

words are not quiet correct ; but it will not 
be necessary for me further to notice this 
epistle. 

The next Book is unto the Colossians. 

In the 1st Chapter, 13 th verse, the word 
"us" should be omitted, and in the 14th 
verse it reads thus — " In him we have re- 
demption through his blood, even the for- 
giveness of sins." Christ, as I have said, 
gave man a way by his example, to be re- 
deemed from his sins, by following, in his 
daily life, the laws of his being, as Christ 
did; but if man thinks that by Christ's 
spilling his blood on the cross, his sins will 
be forgiven without following the Law and 
Gospel, of which Christ has set the example, 
he has fallen into a mistake that he should 
speedily rid himself of, if he wishes to enjoy 
the peace and happiness of a true saint of 
God, in his existence after he has left this 
world. This verse, then, should read thus 
— taking into consideration the verse before 
— In whom we have redemption, by follow- 

6* 



66 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

ing his example, even the forgiveness of 
sins. 

In the third Chapter, it speaks of putting 
off the old man and his deeds, and putting 
on the new man. By this it is understood 
that men should cease doing wrong to one 
another, and walk on earth after the wis- 
dom of Christ. If a man does thus he is 
rich in the sight of God. In the last part of 
this Chapter, it speaks again of women be- 
ing obedient to their husbands. This is 
wrong, as I have explained before ; and 
also about servants, which I have ex- 
plained. 

The next Epistle is unto the Thessaloni- 
ans. 

In the fourth and fifth Chapters, it speaks 
of the last days. I will not now speak on 
it, but do so hereafter. This Book is cor- 
rect in the main. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 67 

The next Book is the Second Epistle unto 
the same people. 

In the first Chapter, 7th, 8th, and 9th 
verses, it reads thus — " And to you who are 
troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus 
shall be revealed from heaven, with his 
mighty angels in flaming fire, taking ven- 
geance on them that know not God, and 
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Who shall he punish with everlast- 
ing destruction from the presence of the 
Lord and from the glory of his power." 
These verses should be construed thus — 
And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, 
and also rest when the Lord shall be revealed 
with his mighty angels from the heavens, 
in flaming power, and taking those from 
him who do not believe in his Gospel. 
These shall be taken from the glory of 
the Lord God, and from the presence of his 
power. The rest of the epistle is nearly 
correct, and I will not now point it out. 



68 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK, 

My next Epistle is unto Timothy. 

In the second Chapter it speaks again in 
regard to women, which I now say is 
wrong. In the third Chapter it tells how 
bishops and deacons must act. These men 
were meant by me as being the rulers over 
the several churches ; and it was written 
by myself, without the aid of the true spirit. 
I would now say to the churches, and to 
the deacons and bishops, that it is well to 
have a ruler over a church, but that their 
power must be in accordance with the 
wishes of the people, and they must preside 
for the benefit of the church, and their 
characters must be according to the prin- 
ciples I have explained, and will shortly lay 
down. 

In the fifth Chapter it speaks also of eld- 
ers ; and I would say, Let them be counted 
worthy of all honor and praise, if they per- 
form their duty faithfully; add that they 
be treated with all respect. In regard to 
widows, let them all be treated with respect 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 69 

by all men ; and they should be suffered to 
live as it best pleases them in all things. In 
the 23d verse, it speaks thus — "Drink no 
longer water, but use a little wine for thy 
stomach's sake, and thine often infirmities." 
This verse should be thus — Drink no kind 
of beverage that will injure you in the 
least, for thy stomach's sake, and thine 
often infirmities. I would also say let 
every man partake of such things as will 
be a happiness to him on earth, and throw 
away all things that will injure his earthly 
nature. 

My next Epistle is the Second Epistle to 
Timothy. 

In the third Chapter and 16th verse, it 
reads that all Scripture is inspired by God. 
I have shown how it was inspired of God, 
although not all that is written in the 
Bible, which man has translated, is inspired 
as it has already been shown. The main 
part of this epistle is correct, and I will not 
therefore speak more upon it. 



70 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Epistle is unto Titus. 

Of this short epistle I will not now point 
out, as I have already pointed some of it 
out in my other epistles, as I closed the 
Books. I shall give some directions in re- 
gard to the conduct that men ought to pur- 
sue on earth. 

The next Epistle is unto Philemon. 

This is only a short epistle to a brother, 
and it is correct in the sense of it. 

The next Epistle is unto the Hebrews. 

In the 6th Chapter and second verse, it 
reads thus — "The doctrine of baptisms, 
and laying on of hands, and of the resurrec- 
tion of the dead, and of eternal judgment." 
This should read thus — The doctrine of 
baptism unto good works, and of the resur- 
rection of the dead from sin and judgment. 
In the 8th verse it reads thus — " But that 
which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, 
and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 71 

burned." This should read thus — But that 
which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, 
and is cast away for a time. 

The 7th and 8th Chapters are not entire- 
ly correct, but I have already spoken on 
that subject in several places. 

In the 9th chapter, it speaks of former 
laws. This is correct in some points, but I 
will not explain in this short epistle what 
is wrong concerning this ; but man will 
know in some future epistle, that will ap- 
pear in the world at some future period ; 
and I will not speak more of this now; 
neither will I speak of the rest of the Chap- 
ters in this Book. 

The next Book is James. 

This epistle is nearly correct in words 
and sense. If man will follow out this 
epistle, he will be doing what God has de- 
signed he should do on earth. This epistle 
shows that men must do good on earth, 
and love one another. Follow this out, O 
man, in all thine actions on earth, and in 
heaven thou wilt find a resting-place, 



72 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Book is Peter. 

In the second Chapter 18th verse, it 
reads thus — " Servants be subject to your 
masters, with all fear, — not only to the 
good and gentle, but also to the fro ward." 
This should read thus — Servants be sub- 
ject to your masters with all diligence, and 
serve only the good for your sake ; but be 
equal with your masters : let them be mas- 
ters over their own house. 

In the third Chapter, from the 1st to the 
7th verse, all that relates to wives being in 
subjection to their husbands, is contrary to 
the will of God, and should not have been 
written in any of the epistles. The 21st 
verse of the same Chapter reads thus — 
" The like figure whereunto even baptism 
doth also now save us, (not the putting 
away of the filth of the flesh, but the an- 
swer of a good conscience toward God,) by 
the resurrection of Jesus Christ." This 
should read thus — The same figure, where 
baptism doth not now save us, except by 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 73 

having good works, and a good conscience 
toward God, and putting away the filth of 
the flesh, as shown by the resurrection of 
Christ. I mean by this, that Christ showed 
his good works by following out the laws 
of his being — both mental and physical — 
when he appeared to his disciples in the 
manner related after his death. In the 22d 
verse, it speaks of Christ having all the 
angels and authorities and powers, subject 
to his will. This is not correct. God is 
the only Being that rules over the universe; 
and He has the angels subject to Him — 
even Christ is next in power to Him : but 
he is subject to His will as the angels are. 

In the Second Epistle of Peter, second 
Chapter 4th verse, it reads thus — " For if 
God spared not the angels that sinned, but 
cast them down to hell, and delivered them 
into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto 
judgment." This is not correct, and it was 
owing to the construction which Peter gave 
it in renewing the writing. No angels can 
sin in the sight of God; they are perfect be- 



74 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

fore Him. And all spirits must be so, or 
they are not raised to the glory of angels in 
Heaven. The rest of the verse I have ex- 
plained. The next two verses speak of 
former destructions, and they are not cor- 
rect ; but of the devastation that happened 
to the earth, at the time supposed by men, 
I will not, in this epistle^ speak unto you. 
The tradition handed down to you, that 
there was a terrible overflowing of the 
waters upon the land is correct, although 
magnified by figures of speech : also the 
destruction of the cities. 

In the third Chapter, from the 7th to the 
13th verses, it speaks of the dissolution of 
the heavens and earth by fire. This is not 
correct, as nothing but the earth will pass 
away, when the day that it here speaks of, 
will come to pass. This earth, as I have 
already said, will be destroyed by its re- 
turning to its fluid state after having ex- 
isted as long as God intended it should, 
when he first caused it to form a S3lid mass; 
(Although I leave unexplained the great 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. TO 

mystery, how the earth can be made to re- 
turn to its fluid state, without destruction 
to the planetary system, which revolves 
around your sun, I will say that the earth 
may be in such a situation to the other 
planets, that it would require the solid state 
of the earth to be made into a fluid ; and it 
is as certain as that you have a Creator, 
that the earth was formed once from fluid ; 
and that a path was formed to receive it in 
its passage around your sun. And it is en- 
graven in the existence of every man, that 
he holds his life at the hand of the great 
Fountain of all existence. But I have not 
now come to prophecy, but to give you un- 
derstanding of what has been told you.) 
Not for the day of judgment, and perdition 
of ungodly men ; for the day of judgment is 
every day with God, as long as the world 
exists. There will be ungodly men at its 
close, as there have been in all time, from 
the beginning. (I say this from the fact 
that there have been manifestations to the 
earth before ; and has the earth since the 



76 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

time of Christ, been free from ungodly 
men? No man will say that it has; and 
looking at the future, I behold that there 
will be ungodly men until the end. In the 
time of Christ and his disciples, many 
thought, that in a time not far distant, the 
earth would be a place of peace and happi- 
ness. But I was then forewarned by the 
spirit, that it would not be so; and I fore- 
warn all men now, that it will not be so. I 
do not cast away the sayings of some good- 
ly spirits among you, and among us, that a 
time will come by these manifestations, 
which we make unto you, when all will be 
peace and happiness among you; but the 
time I do not see, nor behold, although I 
shall attempt to hasten the day, by making 
manifest my spirit unto you by words, to 
call you to be saints of God ; and although 
I shall see thousands becoming saints of 
God, yet I shall behold the ungodly still, 
in the by-ways and streets of your earth.) 



THE BIBLE A3 A BOOK. 77 

The next Books are the three Epistles of 
John. 

In the First Epistle, 4th Chapter and 
15th verse, it says that, " Whosoever shall 
confess that Christ is the Son of God, God 
dvvelleth in him and he in God." But I 
say unto you, O man, unless you follow 
out the doctrine of Jesus, God doth not 
dwell in you. You must follow in the foot- 
steps of his life, to have God in you. This 
verse, and all verses of the same import, 
are not correctly written. In the Second 
Epistle, 10th verse, it reads thus — " If there 
come any unto you and bring not this doc- 
trine, receive him not into your house, 
neither bid him God-speed." This should 
read thus— If there come any unto you that 
believe not this doctrine, receive him into 
your house, but be not partaker of his evil 
deeds, neither bid him God-speed, but let 
them depart in peace, having spoken plain- 
ly unto them of your doctrine. These 
epistles are nearly correct in the main, and 
I will not dwell on them. 

7# 



78 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

The next Book is the Epistle of Jude. 

In this short epistle there are many things 
that are not rightly written, but I have al- 
ready pointed out the errors in other Books; 
and I will leave man to correct the mistakes 
here recorded. 

The next and last Book written in the 

Bible, and used at this day, is a 

Revelation of John. 

He wrote it in a state of unconcernedness 
to the world, and the visions which he saw, 
took place when he was in that state. This 
Book as it is now written to the people of 
earth, is incorrect in several important 
things; and I will write on it at some 
length. 

In the first Chapter, he explains to the 
churches the object of his Revelation, and 
that he wrote it to them for their benefit. 
It also speaks of the majesty of Christ, 
which is correct. By the seven candlesticks 
he meant the churches to whom he wrote 
this revelation. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 79 

The next two Chapters are of the same 
amount, as he was speaking them unto the 
churches in that day. 

In the fourth Chapter, it speaks of his 
being shown into heaven. It speaks of the 
throne of God ; but the description which 
he gives of it is only a vision of it, and not 
the reality. Indeed his visions in this Book 
are merely scenes to portray the power of 
God, the glory of heaven, and the future 
destiny of man and the earth. John him- 
self understood what the scenes meant, that 
he saw in his visions; but no being who 
has not beheld visions, can read the visions 
of John, or any persons, and correctly un- 
derstand them. Men who do not under- 
stand the object of visions, suppose that all 
that John saw was, and is now a reality; 
but the whole of his visions, in this Book, 
are not realities, except in some small 
points of them. If I should give you a de- 
scription of God, and the throne of God, it 
would not, in your conception, be under- 
stood, as it should be understood by you. 



80 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

Could you behold an immense Fountain of 
Matter, whose existence had no beginning, 
nor will have an end; could you behold the 
immensity of Creation, which owes its ex- 
istence to this great Fountain of Matter ; 
could you behold the harmonious manner 
in which He Creates, or Changes the differ- 
ent objects of His Universe; and if you 
could behold all this, you might have a 
slight conception of God. His angels are 
but the servants of His laws, which they 
now show to you, ye spirits of earth, in all 
communications that breathe harmony, 
peace and love. Around the throne of 
God, all is harmony, love and peace; and 
as we approach nearer the great Fountain, 
we become perfect in harmony, love and 
peace. As we approach the throne of God, 
the great Fountain, we are more under His 
care and attention; we have greater per- 
ceptions of Him, and we cannot but sing 
praises to Him, for His wisdom in giving 
us existence. At thy hands, O God, I am, 
and hold my existence. Can I assist thee 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 81 

in thy work of Creation? No; but I can 
and will make known thy will to earth. O 
man, I come to you, and some of you call 
me a Devil. What shall I do? — call you 
Gods, or call you but objects of the creative 
power of the great Fountain, who have 
disobeyed the laws, and are unrefined? 
The latter I shall call you, and repose my- 
self at the hands of the great Fountain, 
who has created all things, rather than re- 
pose myself with you, who have created 
nothing. The brightness of the throne of 
God, which is above the seventh sphere of 
God's angels, is beyond your conceptions. 
Were you to behold it, as you now are, it 
would cause you to be stricken for the 
deeds that you have done to one another. 
Here justice, wisdom, harmony, would first 
convince you, that the rewards you expect 
to receive at the throne of God, will be to 
conduct you to those spheres, where they do 
not triumphant reign. 

John's description of the four and twenty 
elders, is not correct. He meant when he 
gave it, His elect angels. 



82 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

In the 5th Chapter, he describes the Book 
of God, which is opened in Heaven. The 
seven seals are the seven stages of the 
world. The manner of opening the Book^ 
as described, is not correct ; and it was 
owing to the translation of the Book, and 
the manner in which John wrote, which 
caused this mistake. I will, without cor- 
recting the verses, give a true idea of what 
is meant in the Chapters that follow in this 
Book. The Book described by John, was 
opened at the commencement of this earth. 
Then commenced the first seal. The first 
seal of the earth is represented by a beast, 
having a crown of gold, and eyes of dia- 
monds, and horns, shaped like bows and 
arrows. The seal continued for one thous- 
and years. At the end of that time, this 
seal was closed up, and all the people re- 
corded, were judged in Heaven ; and the 
seal was then closed up forever and ever. 



* When I speak of the Book of God, I wish not to be un- 
derstood as meaning a real Book, written in any language. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 83 

The second seal is represented by a huge 
red beast, having eyes of glassy brightness, 
and horns of swords, and this is meant to 
represent this stage of the earth ; and this 
seal is now closed up forever in Heaven, 
and all the people are judged, living in this 
seal. The third seal is represented by a 
beast of perfect blackness, having eyes of 
perfect blackness, and horns of spears and 
swords, used to represent this stage of the 
world ; and all the people are judged, and 
the seal is now closed. The fourth seal is 
represented by a beast that is death, and it 
is covered with the beasts of the earth, and 
with all the horrors of earth. And it is 
used to represent this stage of earth ; and 
all the people are judged, and the seal is 
now closed. The fifth seal is represented 
by a beast having eyes of darkness, and an 
altar near him, where lies the blood of those 
slain, that believed in the Word of God. 
And this is used to represent this stage of 
the world ; and all the people in this stage 
are judged, and the seal is closed. The 



84 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

sixth is represented by a beast of mighty 
strength, having numerous dungeons, 
where he placed the saints of God. And 
this is used to represent this stage of the 
world; and the people are judged, and the 
seal is closed, except to the wicked ; and 
the time since the first seal was opened is 
six thousand five hundred and fifty-four 
years — to the year one thousand eight 
hundred and forty-three, from the birth of 
Christ. The seventh seal is now opened in 
Heaven; but the revelation which John 
gives, of the manner of opening this seal, 
is not correct. At the opening of this seal, 
he says, the earth is to be closed up ; and 
he describes the seven plagues that fol- 
lowed, before it is opened. This is not 
correct, as man has seen ; and by the wis- 
dom of God, I, a humble servant, have 
been empowered to correct the opening of 
this seal, although I intend to convey to 
your understandings the reality, yet I shall 
use such figures, that you will correctly 
understand their bearing. Listen now unto 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 85 

me, O man, and see if what I tell you does 
not take place. The seventh seal was 
opened by God, in the presence of his 
mighty angels, in 1843, on the 15th of July, 
of that year, as time is reckoned by man, 
on the enlightened earth in this day, from 
the birth of Christ. The Archangel blew 
his trumpet in Heaven, and praises were 
sung unto the Most High God. As the 
trumpet ceased, God spake with a loud 
voice, in the minds of His Holy Angels, 
that the seventh seal was now opened, and 
that this was the last seal of earth. He 
then declared unto all Heaven and Hell, 
that the spirits had leave to come to the 
inhabitants of the earth, for a little while, 
as soon as the electric power of the four 
corners of earth would give them the 
means to operate on the inhabitants there- 
of, which by the power of God, occurred 
shortly afterwards. And behold he told us 
another wonder that would happen to 
earth, during the opening of this seal. 
There should be five angels, who should 



86 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

blow their trumpets on the earth in turn, — 
one for two hundred years. And as he said 
this, behold the first angel blew his trum- 
pet on the earth. And then all evil spirits 
were let loose on the earth, for the first two 
hundred years ; and then they are to be 
closed up, not to be let loose again, until 
the fifth angel has blown his trumpet. And 
also on the earth there should be wars, and 
rumors of wars, which man already knows 
have begun. At the end of the first two 
hundred years, the second angel will blow 
his trumpet to the earth, and then there 
will be on the earth, pestilence of every 
kind, destroying the people from the earth, 
and the number of inhabitants of earth will 
be diminished. At the end of this period, 
the third angel will blow his trumpet, and 
then there will be civil wars on earth, and 
contentions that will break up the present 
most enlightened nations of earth. At the 
end of this period the fourth angel will 
blow his trumpet on earth, and then there 
will be famine and wars, that will destroy 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 87 

the people from the face of the earth. At 
the end of this time, the fifth and last an- 
gel will blow his trumpet on the earth, and 
then the evil spirits will be let loose to go 
forth on the face of the earth, to deceive 
those that desire to be deceived, in regard 
to the last days. And then there will be 
false prophets on earth, and there will be 
violent volcanoes among the mountains, 
and numerous earthquakes will take place 
upon the earth, and there will be swearing, 
by the people of earth, towards God, for 
these calamities — not knowing that their 
time draweth near, when they will have to 
stand before God, to be judged for their 
sins. In Heaven there will be rejoicing 
that the earth will soon be changed, and 
thus close the scene of misery of the human 
race upon earth, caused by their own ac- 
tions; and thus there will be a war of pow- 
er, between some of the saints of God, and 
the Devil and his saints. But he will soon 
be destroyed forever and ever. 

John in the 20th Chapter describes how 



88 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

the Devi], (which is evil), will be bound 
for a thousand years. In this vision, it was 
intended to represent that the Devil (that is 
all that is evil), should not be allowed to 
deceive the earth, when he is situated 
beyond or within the planet — earth. All 
unseen powers that are evil, and teach evil 
to you, are to be bound, and are not to be 
allowed to come to earth, and deceive the 
people of earth in any shape or manner. 
The time that he is to be bound I have 
already told you. John also describes the 
first and last resurrection, which is not cor- 
rect; and it was owing to the writing that 
caused this mistake by him. 

I will now, by the grace of God, describe 
the last day of earth, and the last judgment 
day, and the closing up of the seal of earth. 
On the morning of this great and last day 
of earth, the spirits of Heaven will be pre- 
paring to receive the saints of earth, and 
songs of praises will be sung to the Most 
High God; and the Book will be in readi- 
ness for the judging of the people of earth. 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 89 

On earth the sun will cease to shine about 
the ninth hour of the day, and the earth 
will be clothed in darkness, and then there 
will be silence in Heaven, and Earth, and 
hell, for the space of two hours, except the 
wailings of the inhabitants of earth ; and 
the unrighteous will flee into the mountains 
to get from the sight of God, and there will 
be praying, such as never was before on 
earth, and gnashing of teeth, and cursing 
and swearing to the Most High God. At 
the end of this time God, with all his Holy- 
angels, will appear in the heavens, and 
they will lighten up the whole earth with 
their brightness, and God will, with a loud 
voice, declare that the end of earth has 
come; and instantly a great earthquake 
will follow, and the earth will break up and 
return to its fluid state, as it was at the 
beginning ; and all the inhabitants of the 
earth will change into the spirit form, and 
be brought into heaven. God, with a loud 
voice, will judge every man according to 
his works on earth. And unto the wicked 

8* 



90 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

he will say, depart from heaven, until you 
have paid the utmost farthing of your wick- 
edness on earth. And he will send them, 
as he sends all wicked spirits, to the infer- 
nal regions, there to remain until they have 
paid to the utmost farthing for their wicked 
acts, and are willing to obey the laws of 
God. And when all become harmonious, 
and obey the laws of God, the devil of earth 
will be destroyed, (that is, evil will no 
longer reign in the souls of earth's inhabit- 
ants), and in heaven, earth's inhabitants 
will repose forever and ever. And the 
entrance of those that were once evil spirits, 
into heaven, is the second resurrection, 
which takes place every day until the 
resurrection of all; and then the Book of 
earth will be closed, and this is as far as 
revelation is necessary to be known by 
man. 

The 21st and 22d Chapters are not cor- 
rect, as realities. And I have explained 
many things that are written in these Chap- 
ters before. I will not therefore now speak 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 91 

of what is wrong in them. The Revelation 
as John wrote it, was more correct than it 
is in the New Testament at the present 
day. The nature and object of the visions, 
were not correctly understood by the trans- 
lators of this Revelation ; and many wrong 
constructions were put upon the several 
parts ; but it will be unnecessary for me to 
speak more of this Revelation. Many of its 
visions are past, and others have no relation 
to the people of this age ; those that have a 
bearing are written in this epistle unto you. 
There were many other Books written by 
the Apostles, but the rude and dark ages 
have buried them in oblivion, and nearly 
extinguished the whole of the Apostle's 
writings and acts. 

I will now, as a servant of God, give my 
views of the whole Bible, as a Book, and 
explain to man how he must live, with a 
few parting words to man. 

The Bible, as a Book, represents God as 
a changeable Being, changing so as to suit 
the different periods of earth. At one time 



92 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

it represents Him as a savage monster, send- 
ing forth his word to men to slay one 
another; and at another time, it represents 
Him as a merciful Being, dealing out mercy 
to all the people of earth. At another time 
He sends them into a hell of fire and brim- 
stone. 

Such, O man, are the principles, the 
Books, you call the Bible, are conveying to 
the inhabitants of the earth. O, horrible ! 
Can it be that man on earth thinks God is 
like himself? Do you, O, man, consider Him 
a fallible Being, ever changing from right to 
wrong? Yet the Books you now have 
collected together, teach of this doctrine ; 
and this is the reason that I, a humble ser- 
vant, have in spirit come to earth, to correct 
the errors you have made ; for God would 
not allow thee to sin any more in His name. 
God, as it speaks in one place in your 
Bible, is a never changing Being, holy 
above all things, both in heaven and in 
earth, and all other things that exist. He 
was the same at the beginning, and always 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 93 

the same forever and ever ; He deals with 
all men alike, — a merciful Being, endued 
with wisdom and love; and yet, O man, 
you will falsify His name ; even the 
churches, who profess to follow His laws, 
have committed acts in His name, acts 
which no being could perform, except the 
evil one. O, man, think and behold that 
the Old Testament, which Christ declared 
wrong and wicked, you are still calling the 
Word of God. And to uphold your iniqui- 
ties, you say that Christ told you he came 
to fulfill the law, not to destroy. I say the 
same, but I would have you understand 
the laws of God. I come the same as 
Christ came, not to fulfill the sayings of the 
Old Testament, except when these sayings 
accord with the law of God. It is truly 
wonderful, why the Old Testament had not 
been entirely extinguished in the dark ages, 
while multitudes of the works of the Apos- 
tles were swept away; and indeed almost 
all the works were lost. Men will under- 
stand the wonder that evil will allow evil 



94 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

to remain, while good is cast away. The 
translators of the Bible in its present form, 
were not perfect men, as walking in the law 
of God ; yet they were as good then, as the 
churches at present, and would be as likely 
to allow the writings of the Apostles to be 
translated unto them. They did not attempt 
to make a wrong construction knowingly; 
yet if they did, they would have made the 
New Testament to correspond to the Old in 
all things; but they did not, although they 
made wrong constructions, and wrong con- 
structions were in the manuscripts which 
they compiled from ; yet after the correct- 
ings which I have made, and which you 
can now make without mistake, the New 
Testament will be as perfect a Word as can 
be received from any invisible power or 
agency whatsoever. The works of Christ, 
as you have seen, are the most perfectly 
written in the New Testaments. Nowhere 
did you see Christ angry with his fellow 
laborers, however wrongfully they treated 
him. His works are set before you, as per- 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 95 

feet and infallible, and by his works you 
have seen the way that you should live; 
and whatever precepts you have seen con- 
trary to his works, you have seen that they 
should not be the precepts for you to follow. 
Although your angelic Fathers, by the wis- 
dom of God, are allowed to come unto you, 
and do away with all the wicked precepts 
of your Bible, yet you stand before God 
guilty, for not obeying his law, which was 
taught to you by Christ, and all true saints 
of God. Your fathers, either good or evil, 
are not come to give you any new law of 
God, but to show you the Old, which you 
already know. The evil spirits have come 
to show you the destiny of those that dis- 
obey the law entirely as they moved and 
had their being among you. Other spirits 
come, who show to you their rise and pro- 
gress after they have left your midst, prov- 
ing conclusively the words I have written 
unto you. How could the wisdom of God 
be better shown unto you ? How could his 
laws be better explained to your under- 



96 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

standings? How, in the communications 
that you have received, could better be 
shown unto you, your own perfectness, and 
greatness, in the sight of God ? In no way 
could you be made to understand the wis- 
dom, power, and glory of your Creator, 
than in the manner that you now behold 
the various particles of invisible matter, 
corrupt and refined, appearing unto you. 

And now unto the churches I will write 
a few lines, hoping that they may under- 
stand what I write. And not as the 
churches of old, declare that these things 
are not so, and that nothing is true but the 
Book that you profess to follow as the 
Word of God. O, churches, follow the 
doctrine I have now explained to you, and 
keep the commandments that I will shortly 
give you, (the same which Christ gave). 
Let the world pass on, and suffer yourselves 
to injure no one, either in or out of you ; 
but preach to every one the doctrine that I 
have told you, in peace and love. Treat 
every one as your brother in the Lord ; for 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 97 

it is for your sake, and the will of God to 
have it so. Obey no laws but those in 
accordance with the laws of God ; neither 
resist them by the sword, for those that 
take the sword, shall perish by the sword. 
For this is the will of God that every nation 
shall perish by the sword that takes it. 
And see that you, O, churches, do not take 
the sword ; for if you do, you are not the 
churches of God. 

In regard to ceremonies and forms, see 
that you keep your hands washed from all 
vain show and forms ; for can a man ex- 
pect to be a saint of God, except by good 
works ? If ye be ceremonious, what greater 
reward will ye have than the Pharisees of 
old ? Christ did away all the forms of the 
Jewish church, and showed you that to love 
one another is all that is requisite to inherit 
the joys of heaven. The laying on of 
hands, and other ceremonies, which you 
practice among you, was not intended to be 
required of you, as necessary for you to 
become known as disciples of Christ, but it 



98 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

was confined mostly to those persons that 
had the power to heal diseases; and the 
laying on of hands was a matter of neces- 
sity, and wholly connected with the mani- 
festations of that day. And when they 
passed away, these forms were meant to 
pass away with them. You will see the 
same things done in these days; but when 
these manifestations pass away, our manner 
of operating will also pass away, and you 
are to take the practical part, (to obey the 
laws of God), and leave our implements 
and forms as a matter of time, which is 
confined exclusively to us. The Lord's 
supper, as you term one of your ceremonies, 
is but a mere mockery, which shows that 
you are like the Pharisees of old, making 
great shows of your reverence of the laws 
of God, in performing vain ceremonies. 

Christ did indeed eat bread with his dis- 
ciples before his death, yet he did it as a 
man before parting with his beloved disci- 
ples; and although he conversed with them 
of the future, he never intended that it 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 99 

should ever be repeated again as a ceremony 
in honor of him. 

The sprinkling of Holy water, and the 
saying of the mass of the church, which 
was formed by the Apostles, are mockeries 
to the laws of God. I command you, as 
Christ commanded you, to be like little 
children in the sight of God. Be plain in 
all things; and if you wish to pray, go into 
your closet and pray to your Father who is 
in secret. Keep all days holy, for this is 
the will of God ; and it is well for you to 
keep a day apart from the rest, for the ele- 
vation of your minds towards God. But 
let every man be persuaded in his own 
mind, in regard to what day he keeps. 
Live in order, and every thing you do, do 
it in order; and if you have ministers, let 
these ministers preach unto you the words 
I have now written, — preaching them unto 
you plainly, for your benefit. 

And you, O, ministers, be not covetous 
towards your people; let them be equal 
with you, and you equal with them, for 



100 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

this is the will of God. Preach not unto 
the people as in the days of old, supersti- 
tious things. Judge not of any thing until 
you, and your people have looked into the 
subject, carefully and willingly ; and after 
you have done this, let it alone if it is bad, 
but receive it if it is good. All things that 
you say, speak plainly and understandingly, 
so that a fool may understand. Blessed 
will be the churches and ministers that 
keep these sayings, and live them; but to 
those that do not, and preach unto the peo- 
ple that these things are not true, their 
judgment will be double to that of those 
who cannot understand these things ; they 
can understand these things if they will, 
and yet they do not. 

And unto the whole earth, I will write a 
few lines to let them understand these 
things. Let evil depart from your midst, 
and each one of you belong to one church 
whose principles will be in accordance with 
the laws of God as taught by Christ, and 
also by us. Turn away from all supersti- 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 101 

tion, let it come from what direction it may, 
— and from all things that will tend to pro- 
duce it. Do away with all war, and live 
in peace and harmony. Search into all 
things, and hold fast that which is good ; 
and unto evil say, depart from me, like the 
winds and the whirlwinds ; and these com- 
mandments obey. Live and have your 
being as time moves on, and with its rapid 
strides carries you to another state of exist- 
ence. First, obey, nor believe in any god 
but the great Fountain, which gave exist- 
ence to the immense worlds which revolve 
in perfect harmony in the immensity of 
space, which has no end, nor beginning. 
Second, bow in silent adoration and rever- 
ence to the Great Fountain which gave you 
existence, and obey these laws which are 
for you individually to obey, here on earth. 
First, thou shalt not steal : second, thou 
shalt not commit adultery : third, thou 
shalt not kill : fourth, thou shalt not bear 
false witness against thy neighbor, nor 

covet thy neighbor's goods : fifth, thou shalt 
9* 



102 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

keep thyself from all uncleanness. And all 
these are combined in these words, — love 
one another with all thy heart, might and 
strength ; and without doing this, ye cannot 
love God, or obey his laws. 

To children I would say, honor thy father 
and mother here on earth, as long as they 
are with you ; and when they are absent in 
body, honor them still. Obey them in all 
things, until you are sufficiently developed 
to become like men ; and even then obey 
them if they are good, and obey the laws 
of God ; but if they do evil, discountenance 
their evil in peace, love and harmony. 
Take not the name of thy God in vain, nor 
swear, nor curse ; for by so doing you dis- 
obey God's laws. This command must be 
obeyed by all men ; and furthermore, take 
care of thy physical system : for if the body 
is diseased, thy mind will suffer also while 
it exists in the body. And if you disobey 
the laws of the body, you also affect the 
mental body, (which is the spirit), and by 
so doing disobey the laws which God has 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 103 

given you. Be temperate in all things and 
seek for the joys of heaven. 

Unto the rulers who are given to wick- 
edness, — return from your sins towards 
God, and make such laws as are in accord- 
ance with the laws of God. Rule no man, 
except with his consent ; and those that do 
not do this, and make such laws as are not 
in accordance with God's law, hard will be 
their lot in heaven ; for when you were in 
power, you did not do the things I com- 
manded you, but ground your people down 
to the dust, and took their liberty from 
them, and made them slaves to your power. 
Beware! — for the time draweth nigh when 
your power will be broken, and before God 
you will stand to receive a just reward for 
the deeds you have done. No laws are in 
accordance with the laws of God, whose 
principles are not according to the com- 
mandments given to you. Every individ- 
uality has a right to enjoy peacefully, a 
part of the soil of earth, given him by his 
Creator, without the dictation of man ; yet 



104 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

it is right to have laws among yourselves 
in regard to these things, so that harmony 
may prevail throughout the earth. 

The right of every individuality to his 
own person, is a right that infringed upon 
by any individual, will cause him to stand 
before God, guilty of breaking the greatest 
and most important law of his being, given 
him by God, from which all other laws are 
derived. 

Remember these sayings, ye rulers, and 
see that ye destroy not the laws of God, 
given to the human race, to establish your 
own laws among the people. 

And all men, beware ! how ye treat one 
another; and return ye quickly from your 
evil ways. God frequently warns you of 
your evil ways, yet you heed it not, but 
follow on in wickedness, as you have done 
from the beginning. Already the devil is 
at work busily, to put a stop to these mani- 
festations. Even now he has entered into 
the churches, as in the days of old, and the 
ministers are preaching against God and 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 105 

His holy will, and taking from the Bible, 
now used passages to show that God is not 
the God of love and truth. Verily, I say 
unto you, O man, if you injure the least 
person on earth in regard to these things 
that I now say unto you, God will take so 
much of your inheritance from you in 
heaven, until you have paid the utmost 
farthing of the injury you have done. 

Again I say unto you, O, man, that every 
thing that is written in the Books in the 
Bible, now used by man, which were 
written through mediums in former times, 
and which agrees with the principles that I 
have laid down as correct, is the true Bible, 
and one which man must follow to live in 
the path of righteousness and peace. And 
unto all that believe, a rich reward in 
heaven will be your lot. Again, hold fast 
to that which is good, and depart from that 
which is evil. Let the light of the true 
gospel shine throughout the whole world ; 
and when you see a brother thirsty, give 
him drink ; and when he is hungry, give 



1.08 THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 

him food ; and if he is naked, clothe him ; 
and if he is ignorant in regard to the life to 
come, teach him the true and everlasting 
gospel, which has existed from all time, 
and is as lasting as God himself. 

Gather the saints together into one body, 
whose principles and actions shall be peace, 
love and harmony throughout the whole 
earth. Awake ! — the harps of your angelic 
fathers are sounding the sweet tocsin of 
love and harmony throughout your land; 
be ye ready, for the time is nigh at hand, 
when the wicked rulers of the East and 
West, will gather together to persecute the 
saints of God. Be ye strong in faith and 
strength, and go forth among the by-ways 
and streets, preaching boldly that the day 
has come, when men will see heaven open 
unto them ; and from out of hell behold the 
wickedness of man. 

And now I leave you for a little while con- 
cerning these things, hoping that you will re- 
pent and follow Christ. Let this humble 
epistle be read carefully by you all ; and if 



THE BIBLE AS A BOOK. 107 

any man knowingly and willingly takes one 
word from this epistle to place evil therein, 
he shall pay the penalty of so doing to the 
fullest extent; for all that is written in this 
epistle, was written by my impressions on 
a good and honest medium. 

Greet all the brethren in Christ with a 
holy kiss ; let your hearts be turned towards 
God with holy love, and with a fervent 
desire to become his disciples. And may 
the spirit of God be with you all, until his 
coming at the end of earth. Grace, mercy, 
and peace be with you all forever and ever. 
Amen. 



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